Breeders' Cup Sprint the target for Big Macher

ARCADIA, Calif. - Getting Big Macher to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in November as inexpensively as possible has become a goal for owners Brendan Bakir and Tom Mansor and trainer Richard Baltas after the gelding’s win in Saturday’s $200,750 Potrero Grande Stakes.

Baltas said on Sunday that a Win and You’re In race will be a goal this summer for Big Macher. If a horse wins a Win and You’re In race, the Breeders’ Cup waives entry and starting fees.

The full list of Win and You’re In races has not been announced for 2014, but a sprint in Southern California – such as the Bing Crosby Stakes or Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar in the summer – is likely to be among such races.

Last summer, Big Macher was claimed by Bakir, Mansor and Baltas for $20,000 when he made his debut at Del Mar. Big Macher finished seventh in that race, and was later sixth and third on Del Mar’s Polytrack synthetic surface. He broke slowly in two of those races.

“I think he can run on it,” Baltas said of the synthetic track. “He had some gate issues then, but now he’s perfect. He won on synthetic at Hollywood.”

Since the end of the Del Mar meeting, Big Macher has won 4 of 7 starts, including the California Cup Sprint in his stakes debut here on Jan. 25. He was second to Sahara Sky in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes over seven furlongs on March 8.

In the Potrero Grande over 6 1/2 furlongs, Big Macher ($6.20) closed from third in a field of eight to win by a nose over 7-5 favorite Wild Dude. Big Macher was timed in 1:14.97, and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 101.

“I think he’s improved,” Baltas said.

Big Macher has won 4 of 10 starts and $316,428. A 4-year-old by Beau Genius, Big Macher will be considered for the $100,000 Los Angeles Stakes over six furlongs on May 26, although Baltas said he does not want to race Big Macher extensively through the late spring and summer.

“I don’t want to bring him back too quickly,” he said.